Noting that a Form 7 application does not by itself lead to deletion of a voter, a Belagavi Sessions Court has granted anticipatory bail to BJP leader Dr Ravi Basalingappagowda Patil, booked over an alleged attempt to remove 198 voters from the rolls during the SIR.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Belagavi: A Sessions Court in Belagavi has granted pre-arrest bail to BJP leader and medical practitioner Dr Ravi Basalingappagowda Patil in a case alleging that fabricated Form 7 applications were submitted to delete the names of 198 voters belonging to the Muslim community from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) [Dr. Ravi Basalingappagowda Patil v. State of Karnataka].
The order was passed on October 3, 2026 by Gangadhara K.N., II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Belagavi, sitting at Gokak.
The allegations
The case was registered at Market Police Station, Belagavi, as Crime No. 218/2026, on a complaint lodged on October 1, 2026 by Meerasab Sanadi, a block agent of an opposing political party. According to the complaint, on September 26, 2026, the accused, including Patil, who is arrayed as Accused No. 3, submitted about 198 fabricated Form 7 applications to the Booth Level Officer attached to the election section of the Belagavi Mahanagar Palike, seeking to delete the names of voters of a particular community who, the complaint says, still lived at the addresses shown in the list.
Patil has been booked under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 336(4), 353, 61(2), 3(5), 3(7) and 192 read with Section 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and was served a notice under Section 35(1) to appear before the investigating officer.
These are allegations at the investigation stage. They have not been tested, the Court has expressed no view on their merits, and Patil is presumed innocent.
Patil’s plea
Patil contended that he is a doctor from a respectable family with no connection to the alleged offences. He said he would cooperate with the investigation, but feared that an arrest would cause irreparable damage to his reputation.
Election authority must verify
The Court noted that the case rests on documentary evidence that is already with the election authorities, who carry out their own verification before acting on any Form 7 application. It also took note of the delay in lodging the complaint:
“If at all the present petitioner and others have submitted a created Form No.7, they are already with the BLO attached to the election section of the Belagavi Mahanagar Palike. The case is based on documentary evidence and moreover mere submission of Form No.7, the election authority will not automatically act, they will do their own enquiry, verification. That apart, though incident was allegedly held on 26.9.2026, the present complaint being lodged on 1.10.2026 which is almost after lapse of more than 8 days and moreover it is the election authority has to dispute on the particular document and not the persons belonging to particular party.”
The Court further observed that though the offences are non-bailable, they are not punishable with death or imprisonment for life, and held that Patil had made out a prima facie case for pre-arrest bail.
The conditions
The Court directed that, in the event of arrest, Patil be released on executing a bail bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety for the like sum. He must not threaten or intimidate prosecution witnesses, must not get involved in any criminal activity, and must appear before the investigating officer whenever a notice is issued. Copies of the order were directed to be sent to the Public Prosecutor and the Commissioner of Police, Belagavi City.
Why The Form 7 Order Matters
Form 7 is the form used to object to a name on the electoral roll and seek its deletion. The order makes the point that a Form 7 is only a request: the election authority must carry out its own enquiry and verification before any name is removed, and the documents in question are already with the authorities.
Bail at this stage is not a finding on the allegations. Whether the applications were fabricated, and who filed them, remains for the investigation and, if a charge sheet follows, for trial.
Case Title: Dr. Ravi Basalingappagowda Patil v. State of Karnataka [Criminal Misc. No. 1568 of 2026]
Court: II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Belagavi, sitting at Gokak (Gangadhara K.N.)
Date of Order: October 3, 2026
Appearances: Advocate R.G. Patil for the petitioner; Public Prosecutor for the State